Explore the State Botanical Garden of GA in Athens!

OVERVIEW:  The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a 300-acre forested preserve and public education facility in Athens, on a bend of the Oconee River just 3 miles south of the U of GA campus. It boasts about 5 miles of beautiful nature trails and is free of charge for the enjoyment of all who love nature.
  Since the weather is shaping up to be gorgeous this Saturday I thought it would be a good opportunity for myself and a few fellow AOCers to explore the Garden and its trail system.  This will be my first visit—hence my designation of this outing as an "Adventure!
  Our plan will be to enjoy about 2 hours of easy to moderate hiking and to visit some of the formal displays of native and exotic plant species.  At about 1:00 PM we'll plan to take a half-hour break from our "exploring" to have lunch together at the "Gardenside Cafe" inside the Garden.
  The Garden's very nice official website is:
     http://www.uga.edu/botgarden  

A BIT MORE DETAIL:  Founded in 1968, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is intended for all who find beauty, knowledge and solitude in a garden setting.  It also serves as a "living laboratory" for U. of Georgia students and faculty who utilize the collections and natural plant communities for studies in a variety of disciplines.
  Along the 5 miles of hiking trails are a wide variety of natural features and plant communities.  The terrain includes wetlands, floodplains, slopes, and upland plateaus. Portions of the trail system parallel the shoreline of the Middle Oconee River which borders the western portion of the Garden.
  Wildlife such as foxes, rabbits, raccoons, possums and numerous bird species find the Garden a natural habitat, and birding is a popular activity.  The Garden and adjoining U. of GA Whitehall Forest have been designated an "Important Bird Area" by the Audubon Society.
  Sites of archeological interest include several old home sites and rock mounds of uncertain origin.
  The "Gardenside Cafe" on Saturdays offers soups and sandwiches and sometimes a salad bar—also a variety of beverages.
  The Garden's main phone number for Visitor Information is 706-542-1244.  For detailed online maps of the Garden and its Trail System use this link:
http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/infomaps.html

TO the GARDEN, from the SPAGHETTI JUNCTION INTERCHANGE (I-85/I-285) in NE Atlanta:
 
1) Take I-85 North about 4 miles where you'll pass our optional "Indian Trail Rd" carpool meeting point at Exit #101.

2) CONTINUE on I-85 North (from Indian Trail) about 5 more miles to the Exit #106 "GA-316 East" interchange and bear Right onto GA-316 toward Lawrenceville & Athens.

3) Take GA-316 East about 40 miles  (passing Lawrenceville and Dacula en route) to the US-78 "Athens Perimeter" beltway, and bear Right off GA-316 at the "US-78 E/GA-10 Loop S" exit ramp.

4) Merge here onto US-78 East (the beltway) and follow it eastward for about 4 miles.

5) Take Exit #6 off US-78, turn Right onto Milledge Ave, and follow it southward about 0.8 mile.

6) Near the top of the hill look for a small stone sign for the "State Botanical Garden of GA," turn Right onto the Garden entrance road, and proceed about 0.5 mile into the Garden.

7) For parking, the Garden reps recommend that after we cross a metal "cattle grate" in the roadway we take the second available Right turn toward the "Callaway Building" and park in that "lower" Parking Lot.  In the unlikely event that this lot is full, we can drive instead to the larger main lot which is nearby.

8) Our entire AOC group will plan to gather at about 11:30 AM by the "circular fountain" in front of the main entrance to the large Visitor Center & Conservatory (or just inside it at the information desk if it happens to be raining).

9) If you use an onboard GPS navigation system (or would like to use "Google.com/maps," etc. to prepare a custom map or directions to the State Botanical Garden of GA from your point of departure) use this as your destination address:
   2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
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Free Event with Free Parking!